The 21st Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards went down yesterday at the Wall Center. There were lots of predictable winners and quite a few surprises as well. And as with every year there were as many disappointed people as there were happy ones. The better highlights I’ll save for the deathbed (except for the part when a high profile executive chef accidentally nailed an old lady in the head with a Nimby burger frisbee – that was just too awesome to keep to myself), plenty second-guessing of us judges, and an intoxicating array of after-parties that left half our finest rooms staffed with fabulous drunks, ecstatic winners and not a few honourable mentions wondering how it all went wrong. Results after the photos…

Restaurant of the Year

Gold: Blue Water Cafe

Silver: Cioppino’s

Bronze: West

Chef of the Year

Frank Pabst of Blue Water Cafe

Best New Restaurant

Gold: Campagnolo

Silver: Maenam

Bronze: Market

Best Regional

Gold: Bishop’s

Silver: “C”

Bronze: Blue Water Cafe

Best Seafood

Gold: Blue Water Cafe

Silver: “C” Restaurant

Bronze: Tojo’s

Best Small Plates

Gold: Cru

Silver: Bin 941

Bronze: Nook

Best Bar/Lounge

Gold: Uva Wine Bar

Silver: Pourhouse

Bronze: Bacchus at the Wedgewood

Best French (Formal)

Gold: Le Crocodile

Silver: Lumiere

Bronze: Market

Best French (Casual)

Gold: Pied-a-Terre

Silver: La Regalade

Bronze: DB Bistro Moderne

Best Italian (Formal)

Gold: Cioppino’s

Silver: Il Giardino

Bronze: Q4

Best Italian (Casual)

Gold: L’Altro Buca

Silver: Campagnolo

Bronze: La Quercia

Best European (Other)

Gold: Chambar

Silver: Irish Heather

Bronze: La Rua

Best Chinese (Formal)

Gold: Kirin

Silver: Sun Sui Wah

Bronze: Jade Seafood

Best Chinese (Formal)

Gold: Chen’s Shanghai Kitchen

Silver: Alvin Garden

Bronze: Koon Bo Seafood

Best Dim Sum

Gold: Kirin

Silver: Sun Sui Wah

Bronze: Gingeri

Best Japanese (Formal)

Gold: Tojo’s

Silver: Miku

Bronze: Octopus Garden

Best Japanese (Casual)

Gold: Kingyo

Silver: Dan

Bronze: Shuraku

Best Korean

Gold: Hanwoori

Silver: Sura

Bronze: Seoul House Royal

Best Thai

Gold: Maenam

Silver: Salathai

Bronze: Montri’s

Best Vietnamese

Gold: Phnom Penh

Silver: Pho Thai Ho

Bronze: Pho Tan

Best Asian (Other)

Gold: Spice Islands

Silver: Banana Leaf

Bronze: The Flying Tiger

Best Indian

Gold: Vij’s

Silver: Rangoli

Bronze: Ashiana Tandoori

Best Americas

Gold: Cobre

Silver: La Taqueria

Bronze: Latitude

Best Casual Chain

Gold: Cactus Club

Silver: Memphis Blues

Bronze: Joey

Best Steakhouse

Gold: Gotham

Silver: Hy’s

Bronze: The Shore Club

Best North Shore

Gold: Fraiche

Silver: La Regalade

Bronze: Gust0 di Quattro

Best Whistler

Gold: Araxi

Silver: Bearfoot Bistro

Bronze: Hy’s Steakhouse

Best Victoria

Gold: Zambri’s

Silver: Brasserie L’Ecole

Bronze: Cafe Brio

Best Vancouver Island

Gold: Sooke Harbour House

Silver: Amuse Bistro

Bronze: The Pointe at the Wickaninnish Inn

Best Okanagan

Gold: Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar

Silver: Bouchons Bistro

Bronze: Cabana Grille

Best Winery/Vineyard Dining

Gold: The Terrace at Mission Hill

Silver: Old Vines at Quail’s Gate

Bronze: Bacchus Bistro at Domaine Chaberton

Best Resort

Gold: The Pointe at the Wickaninnish Inn

Silver: Sooke Harbour House

Bronze: Fetch at the Black Rock

Best Service

Gold: Bishop’s

Silver: West

Bronze: Blue Water Cafe

Best Last Course

Gold: CinCin

Silver: Thomas Haas Patisserie

Bronze: West

Best Design

Gold: Market

Silver: Campagnolo

Bronze: Mis Trucos

Premier Crew

David Stanger (CinCin), Michael Stanger (The Beach House), Eryn Collins (Chambar), Katharine Manson (Refuel)

The Green Award

Andrea Carlson (Bishop’s)

Bartender of the Year

Shaun Layton (George Ultra Lounge)

Supplier/Producer of the Year

Sloping Hill Farms

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sinclair Philip (Sooke Harbour House)